All Things Wise and Wonderful was published by St. Martin’s Press in 1977 (combining the UK volumes Vet in a Spin and Vets Might Fly, published by Michael Joseph in 1976 and 1977). The book covers Herriot’s wartime RAF service — basic training, flying instruction, and the dislocations of military life — interwoven with memories of veterinary practice in the Dales.
The structural device is effective: Herriot alternates between the regimentation and absurdity of RAF training and the remembered freedom of his Yorkshire practice. The military chapters provide comedy (Herriot is a hopeless airman, perpetually confused by drill and discipline) while the veterinary memories provide emotional depth and continuity with the earlier books. The contrast between the two worlds — the impersonal military machine and the intimate farming community — illuminates what Herriot values about his civilian life.
The book was another enormous commercial success, confirming that Herriot’s readership was loyal and expanding. The combination of wartime nostalgia (RAF service held a particular romance for British readers) with the established Yorkshire formula proved irresistible. The book also documents Herriot’s deepening relationship with his wife Helen — their wartime separation adding emotional weight to the partnership.
Collecting All Things Wise and Wonderful
US first edition (St. Martin’s Press, New York, 1977): Cloth with dust jacket.
Market values:
- US first edition, fine/fine: $25–$60
- UK component first editions: $30–$75 each
- Signed: $100–$200
Projected values (2026–2036): Moderate appreciation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Herriot serve in the RAF? Yes. James Alfred Wight served in the Royal Air Force during World War II, though he continued veterinary work when possible. The wartime disruption to his Yorkshire practice provides material for the later books, where he alternates between RAF memories and veterinary stories.
Why does Herriot alternate between wartime and peacetime stories? The alternating structure in the later books reflects Wight’s own experience of displacement. The wartime chapters capture his homesickness for Yorkshire and the disorientation of military life; the veterinary chapters anchor the reader in the familiar Dales landscape.